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The Blue Jays lineup had more of a big league look against Buck Showalter's Baltimore Orioles what with the return of Edwin Encarnacion and Colby Rasmus to the lineup.

Encarnacion has missed the past four games due to soreness in his left wrist while Rasmus has been absent since suffering a left oblique strain Aug. 11.

Encarnacion has been a potent force for a second consecutive season with his 28 doubles, 36 home runs and team-leading 104 RBIs.

Rasmus, meanwhile, despite not having any rehab games, stepped right back in and in his second at-bat of the night drilled a solo shot to right to help the Jays open a 3-0 lead. Adam Lind had put the Jays up 2-0 in the fourth with a two-run homer, his 20th of the season.

Rasmus added a single in the seventh in an 11-pitch battle with lefty reliever T.J. McFarland.

It was all for naught, though, as the Orioles scored three in the seventh following a dubious decision by John Gibbons to yank starter Todd Redmond who had allowed just three hits, and won it 5-3 courtesy of Chris Davis' 50th homer of the season, the first of two Baltimore runs in the eighth.

Rasmus has put together has most complete season as over 112 games he is hitting .274 with 26 doubles, 19 home runs and 61 RBIs. By complete we mean that there has been no second-half drop off such as he has experienced in his other big-league campaigns.

It is something the 27-year-old centre fielder takes pride in.

"I wanted to come back and finish strong, not just cash it in," he said of working to get back in the lineup instead of taking the rest of the season off.

He was asked if he is satisfied with his season to date.

"Aside from getting hurt I'd say I am," Rasmus said. "I've made a lot of adjustments this year and with our team's situation it wasn't easy on anybody. That made it tough but I was able to make adjustments and keep myself in at-bats and with that being said, I'm happy with it. It was a grind, it was tough but as I sit here right now I don't think I have anything to be down on myself about."

By adjustments, what does he mean?

"Understanding what these pitchers are trying to do to me, having a better approach at the plate, being able to hit some breaking balls a little better which is a big thing for me this year. Finding some things as far as my swing and just in my head that helped me. Motor (hitting coach Chad Mottola) helped me a ton, he's been great for me this year."

All in all he believes he is maturing as a player.

"No doubt and this is the first year I've actually been able to go at it on my own and learn from myself which is what I wanted to do coming in this year," he said. "My thought process was try to get to where when the game is on the line or things get tough, I have some answers within myself to try to fix it, not somebody else barking at me or telling me what to do."

Rasmus added that his relationship with both Mottola and manager John Gibbons has been a real plus in his development.

"Motor's younger and he played recently so it was more like talking to a friend about it instead of somebody just telling me what to do and me not having any input and being able to have thoughts for myself. I think that helps me to keep my mind clear on the field and be more instinctive during the game instead of being like a robot.

"This year Gibby's been great. He's kind of taken the reins off me and let me go and play and I think that's helped me a ton too. In the past we all know the manager I had before (Tony LaRussa) was a little tougher than that and he didn't let you do your own thing and be your own player. I think that hindered me a little bit because it took my instincts out of the game."

ALL THE WRONG MOVES

It was a bit of a puzzler, the decision by Gibbons to pull Redmond who was sailing along magnificently. But despite the fact he was pitching a shutout he was yanked from the game with one out and a runner at third in the seventh. Before the inning would end three runs would cross the plate and the O’s were on their way.

“I know my guys pretty good and the plan was there to bring them in if there was any trouble,” Gibbons said of his decision. “McGowan was one of our hottest guys lately. It backfired but that was our plan. It’s uncharted territory for him (the seventh inning for Redmond). He’s been off a little bit (first start since Sept. 3) but he threw a hell of a game. We just didn’t get the outs.

“Sometimes to win the game you’ve got to stop things before they develop.”

Edwin Encarnacion, Colby Rasmus return in Jays loss

The Blue Jays lineup had more of a big league look against Buck Showalter's Baltimore Orioles what with the return of Edwin Encarnacion and Colby Rasmus to the lineup.

Encarnacion has missed the past four games due to soreness in his left wrist while Rasmus has been absent since suffering a left oblique strain Aug. 11.

Rasmus, meanwhile, despite not having any rehab games, stepped right back in and in his second at-bat of the night drilled a solo shot to right to help the Jays open a 3-0 lead. Adam Lind had put the Jays up 2-0 in the fourth with a two-run homer, his 20th of the season.

It was all for naught, though, as the Orioles scored three in the sevehth following a dubious decision by John Gibbons to yank starter Todd Redmond who had allowed just three hits, and won it 5-3 courtesy of Chris Davis' 50th homer of the season, the first of two Baltimore runs in the eighth.